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Book recommendations for novice owners.

7K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  elaine287 
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#1 ·
I thought it might be a nice idea to put a thread together, where newbies to dogs can get all their book recommendations in one go. I know there are thousands of dog books on shop shelves, often with the most inappropriate ones being plugged by a few pet stores, which can lead newbies up the wrong path. So to have a list of good common sense books, written by people who understand dogs and don't advocate "dominating" them, would be a big help to those who don't know where to start.

So here we go.

I'd like to recommend.....

The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey

100 ways to Train the Perfect Dog by Sarah Fisher and Marie Miller

Canine Body Language (A photographic guide) by Brenda Aloff


Now over to you.....

8)
 
#3 ·
I read the Perfect Puppy and I think if you're only going to read one book, this should be it.

Also read 'How to talk with your dog' by David Alderton, which I thought was good.

Do not buy 'Lifeskills for puppies', boring and not very much depth to it. If you read the Perfect Puppy that's much better.

A friend lent me 'Puppy Training the Guide Dog way' and it has a whole section about how to choose a puppy, which would be useful to anyone considering or shopping for a puppy. Also, the puppy Guide Dogs are all about socialisation and staying quiet/calm, etc, so quite useful I think. Boogs - you said you were thinking about becoming a puppy walker and there's loads of stories about puppy walkers in there so might be of interest to you.

I also have 51 Puppy Tricks by Kyra Sundance, which is really good fun and good inspiration for tricks.
 
#5 ·
Along with the ones already suggested, I recommend Bones Would Rain from the Sky, by Suzanne Clothier :)

It's a book for general dog ownership, but it's definitely one I'd particularly recommend for new dog owners of puppies or adult dogs, or anyone who may have been previously 'swayed' by other books that we'd rather hadn't been written.

I've got a feeling it's not a book you are particularly fond of, Jules, so apologies(!).
 
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#6 ·
-Angela- said:
I've got a feeling it's not a book you are particularly fond of, Jules, so apologies(!).
No need to apologise, Angela 8). It was too Airy Fairy for my tastes but I know loads of other people really rate it, so it definitely deserves to be on the list. :D
 
#9 ·
Well you've got 2 of mine on there.

Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey got me through the first few months of first time puppy ownership just about retaining sanity with my lovely Lunatic!

I've enjoyed the Canine Body Language (A photographic guide) by Brenda Aloff too. It's helped me to relax in some situations and trust my dogs are giving off appropriate signals and step in to help or remove them from other scenarios.

I found 101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance and Clancy great for keeping my intelligent pup busy and it taught me how to sequence together training in bits to something impressive!

Pippa Mattinson's The Right Start and subsequent books Passing Grade One etc are super too. It was the theories and practical ideas in these books that helped me adapt the boisterous, untrained adolescent traits in Tucks into 'gundoggy' ones that have made him a pleasure to have around the house rather than a pest!!! LOL
 
#10 ·
I'm a big fan of Anthea Lawrence and "training the working retriever" is a great read.

It's not all about "working" dogs, although there is a clue in the title, nevertheless it is packed full of invaluable advice.

"Sit, no matter what"

Yep, that'll do for starters :D
 
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#11 ·
_Jules_ said:
The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey


8)

I found this to be a very useful book, but I also found:
Clicker Training for Dogs: Positive reinforcement that works! by Karen Pryor
to be REALLY helpful, I knew I wanted to try clicker training, but I wasn't really sue what to do or how to do it. This book was very easy to dip into and out of and got us started.
 
#12 ·
Claire_and_Willow said:
_Jules_ said:
The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Bailey


8)

I found this to be a very useful book, but I also found:
Clicker Training for Dogs: Positive reinforcement that works! by Karen Pryor
to be REALLY helpful, I knew I wanted to try clicker training, but I wasn't really sue what to do or how to do it. This book was very easy to dip into and out of and got us started.


I've got both of those too and think they are both worth having.
 
#15 ·
Im with _Jules_ on the 100 ways to train the perfect dog by S Fisher and M Miller rec!

We're due to pick up our pup in two weeks so have been doing a little prep reading, including 100 ways and also Perfect Puppy by G Bailey. I've found that perfect puppy tends to add a lot of unnecessary waffling, where as 100 ways is just straight to the point, and every things very easily organised!
 
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